Can a Middle Ground be Found on Senate Numbers?

Bruce M. Hicks

Abstract

Seven years after Confederation, the House of Commons gave unanimous consent to a mo- tion to consider reforms to the Senate.1 The proposal included such radical notions as the adoption of a Senate electoral system based on proportional representation, the allotment of six senators for each region, and the fixing of terms to eight years, staggered to ensure the election of only half the Senate at a time.2